Check out the Ruby Cup the best menstrual cup recommended by Nutritionists. Plus, use our discount code to get 10% off!
Author: Josie Shillabeer (Nutritional Therapist)
Click on the link below to & use promo code TheHealthPuzzle10 to get 10% off
In this post we are going to take a look at the Ruby Cup, a menstrual cup used and recommended by Nutritionist and those with a passion for natural health and sustainability.
Firstly, we are going to take a look at what a menstrual cup is and why you should use one. We will then take a look at what makes the Ruby Cup a great menstrual cup option. Finally, I will share with you some of my Ruby Cup tips and tricks after 5 years of use.
If you like what you see, you can click on the button above to make use of our discount code that will get you 10% off your Ruby Cup.
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup is a reusable, bell-shaped device typically made of medical-grade silicone, rubber, or latex that is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood during a period. It forms a seal with the vaginal walls to prevent leaks and can hold more blood than many other period products.
Why should you try a menstrual cup?
Long-Term Cost
Having periods is bad enough but paying for the privilage is just frustrating. The average cost of having a period in the UK is around £10 per month or £130 per year. This is one of the biggest reasons why you should try a menstrual cup.
The Ruby Cup for example is a one off purchase costing £25.95 (at the time of writing this article) and will last you 10 years. That is a saving of £1,300!
Comfort
While comfort was not what I expected from a menstrual cup when I first purchased mine, it was a very welcome addition. Having worn tampons with nasty wet string between my legs or a period pad that felt like wearing a nappy it was lovely to use a menstrual product that I frequently forget I am wearing.
The first couple of menstrual cups that I tried were too large and inflexible for me making them uncomfortable and regularly leaked. I almost gave up trying but knowing the benefits I am so glad that I went for it and tried the Ruby Cup. The medical grade silicone is thin, soft and flexible and the small size fitted me perfectly (no more leaks!). On days 3-5 of my period I have to be really careful to remember to take out my Ruby Cup after 12 hours of use as it is so comfortable I forget I am wearing it.
Freedom/Duration
The Ruby Cup can be worn for up to 12 hours. I personally have a medium flow and on days 1-2 of my period I empty out my Ruby Cup when I wake up, at lunch time and before bed. On days 3-5 I am able to just empty my cup when I wake up and before I go to sleep. How freeing is that! I no longer have to think about finding a bathroom every 2-4 hours to replace a tampon or towel.
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Health
I had not considered the materials and chemicals found within the tampons and period pads that I used to use before I was introduced to menstrual cups. I was slightly horrified to find out that most mainstream branded products are made up of plastic and toxin filled cotton; which can impact your health both short term (toxic shock syndrome) and long-term (cancer, inflammatory conditions, toxin accumulation, etc).
The vagina is filled with lots of blood vessels and is warm/moist making it the perfect place for absorbing anything that you put near it. When you insert a tampon the likelyhood of the plastic and chemicals found within it getting into your bloodstream is very high. If you don't believe that the skin can absorb chemicals just think about how pessaries, creams and patches (e.g. HRT & Nicotine) work.
It was a big relief to know that that Ruby Cup is made of medical grade silicone. It is plastic and chemical free, making it a safe alternative to traditional period products. The sooner you switch to a plastic and chemical free menstrual products the better!
If a menstrual cup isn't the right option for you but you would like to switch to a non-toxic alternative to traditional period pads and tampons check out our product directory by clicking on the link below:
Check out our product directory for more menstrual health recommendations
Another way that a menstrual cups can support your health is that unlike products that absorb the blood you can track how heavy your flow is and how much clotting you are experiencing with ease.
Plastic Free/Sustainability
I came across menstrual cups over 10 years ago when the zero waste movement (plastic free living) was first taking off. I began to look at the products I was using day-to-day and looked to see what products I could switch out for plastic free and/or resuable alternatives. One area of my life that was full of disposable plastic was my menstrual health products.
Over the last decade I have tried and tested a range of plastic free and reusable menstrual products and I have come to love the Ruby Cup alongside organic panty liners (see recommendations below). When you use a menstrual cup you are able to reduce the amount of material (man-made or natural) that is going into your bin every month. A menstrual cup is therefore a great sustainable switch.
Body Awareness
It took me a few years to become comfortable inserting my menstrual cup. I was so used to inserting a tampon and not even touching my own vagina that it felt a little dirty and weird at the beginning. When you insert your menstrual cup it involves you having to fold the cup (read more about this in the hints and tips section), insert it into your vagina and play around with it a little to get it into place. Your fingers can get a little messy and it can feel a little un-lady like.
However, 5 years in to using a menstrual cup I no longer feel ashamed, weirded out or dirty. In fact it now feel empowered. My body is amazing, I have periods so that hopefully one day I can bare children and it is a completely normal bodily process.
No Smell
As the cup sits inside you collecting the blood and does not come into contact with air it never smells. Plus, with no chemicals or un-breathable plastic against your vulva a menstrual cup does not affect your vaginal pH helping to keep everything perfectly balanced.
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Why I purchased the Ruby Cup
I tried a couple of menstrual cups from my local whole foods shop and found them to be too large and inflexible making them uncomfortable and prone to leaking. Having learnt about the benefits of using a menstrual cup I was not willing to give up and decided to do some research to find a smaller and more flexible option. That is when I came across the Ruby Cup.
Thin & Flexible
From the moment I used the Ruby Cup I knew it was the one. It was much thinner and more flexible than the menstrual cups I had previously used. This made it easier to fold, making it easier to insert as I could fold it smaller and it didnt constantly want to ping out of my hand. It's flexibility also enables it to move around as you do helping to reduce any sensations of pressure when wearing the cup and helping to reduce leaks.
The Perfect Size
When the Ruby Cup was inserted it fitted perfectly into place (not too small and not too big), creating a good air seal to avoid any leaks.
Colour Options
I loved that I could choose the colour of my menstrual cup. I choose purple but you can also go for pink, black, blue and transparent. The transparent options I had tried before became stained with use so having a colour helps to keep it looking like new. It also helps to make that time of the month feel a little less clinical.
Buy One, Give One Program
For every menstrual cup purchased Ruby Cup donate a menstrual cup to someone in period poverty. So far Ruby Cup has donated over 150,000 menstrual cups worldwide. I couldn't quite believe that I was buying a menstrual cup for just over £25 that would save me hundreds of pounds longterm and I was also donating a menstrual cup to someone who needed it! Helping others feels really good.
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About the Ruby Cup
Size
The Ruby Cup comes in two sizes small and medium.
I personally choose the smaller option as I have not had any children, I am petite, have a medium flow and the previous menstrual cups I had tried were all too big.
Many people purchase one of each size and use the larger option for the first few days of their period when it is heavier and the smaller size when it is lighter. Ruby Cup offers a duo pack.
If your menstrual cup is not able to open out fully it is too big and if it moves around inside you and regularly leaks it is too small.
You can complete a quiz on the Ruby Cup website to find out the best size for you. Click Learn > Find your cup size.
Material
The Ruby Cup is made from medical grade silicone. It is 100% vegan, plastic and chemical free.
Cutting the stem to size
The Ruby Cup can be used with or without the stem. If your cervix is very high then you may want to keep the stem (see image below) to make it easier to reach in and pull it out (without the stem you may risk getting it stuck). If you are new to using a menstrual cup I would recommend that you keep the stem while you are practicing as it will make it easier to reach in and remove it.
If you have a low cervix, find that you can feel the stem or have been using a menstrual cup for a longtime then you may want to cut some or all of the stem off. What I loved about the Ruby Cup is that the base is ribbed. This means that if you have choosen to cut the stem off like I have you can reach in and can easily grip onto the base of the Ruby Cup and pull it out. Other menstrual cups have a smooth base making it very difficult to grip and remove.
Guarantee
Ruby Cup offer a 120 day money back guarantree. You can change to a different size or get your money back.
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Cleaning your Ruby Cup
To avoid any unwanted infections and to help prolong the life of your menstrual it is important that you regularly clean and sterilise it.
During your period
You do not need to sterilise your menstrual cup during your period. Simply empty your cup down the toilet, sink or shower drain, wash the cup out with clean running water and re-insert it.
If you are out and about and you need to empty your Ruby Cup you can either rinse it with a bottle of water or simply give it a wipe with some toilet tissue.
Before & after your period
You should sterilise your Ruby Cup before you first insert it and after your period has finished, before you pack it away until next time. I have to admit that in the five years I have been using the Ruby Cup I have only ever sterilised it after my period and have not had any problems. I just make sure it is kept clean and rinse it under clean water before I first use it. However, it is highly recommended that you sterilise your cup before you first insert it.
How to sterilise your Ruby Cup
You can sterilise your Ruby Cup in one of two ways. The first is to put it into a saucepan of boiling water and the second is using the Ruby Clean Collapsible Steriliser that can be used in your microwave.
Sterilising your Ruby Cup in a saucepan.
I clean my Ruby Cup by washing it as much as I can under the tap and then place it into a saucepan of boiling water for 5 minutes. Some people prefer a dedicated menstrual cup saucepan but I personally just use the smallest one available in my kitchen at the time. To speed this process up I will sometimes boil the kettle and pour the boiled water into the saucepan and bring it back to boil before putting in my Ruby Cup.
Depending on how you put your Ruby Cup into your saucepan you may need to use a spoon to lower it into the water so that the whole thing is submerged. After 5 minutes of boiling your Ruby Cup you can then remove it using a spoon and I place mine into a tea cup to allow it to cool down and dry. Once your Ruby Cup has dried you can then put it back into it's cotton bag ready for the next time you use it.
Sterilising your Ruby Cup in the microwave
Ruby Cup sells a collapsible microwaveable menstrual cup steriliser that makes it super quick and easy for you to sterilise your menstrual cup.
Pour a little water into the steriliser, drop in your Ruby Cup, pop on the lid and put it into your microwave for 3-5 minutes. Remove your Ruby Cup and allow both your Ruby Cup and the microwavable steriliser to air dry before packing them away.
You can buy the Ruby Cup and Steriliser together to save you money.
Something to be aware of with menstrual cups
I find it super easy to wash out and sterilise my Ruby Cup, however, I do find that the holes near the top of the cup (see image below) can sometimes get clogged up, are hard to clean and get discoloured over time. These holes are found on all menstrual cups as they help the cup to form a vacuum once inserted, keeping it in place and helping to avoid any leaking. If you wash and sterilise your Ruby Cup it is not a problem but it is something to be aware of.
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Menstrual Cup Tips and Tricks
How to insert your menstrual cup
Always wash your hands first! Then rinse your cup under a little water to make it easier to insert. Using one of the menstrual cup fold techniques below, fold the cup and insert it into your vagina. You may find it easier if you tense the muscles within your vagina as you insert it and then release your muscles once it is inside.
There are three fold methods that you can try to make inserting the cup easier.
C Fold: Squeeze the walls of the cup together to form a C-shape.
Punchdown Fold: Pinch down one wall of the cup into the base so that it forms a triangle shape.
7 Fold: Squeeze the walls of the cup together and fold one top corner so that the cup forms a 7 shape.
Once the cup is in you vagina:
Check that the cup has popped back to it's bell shape. It should open up fully in your vagina, if you are having problems see our recommendations below.
You can give the cup a little twist (rotate) to get it into the right place.
You can gently squeeze the base of the cup a few times to help form a tighter seal.
What to do when your menstrual cup won't fully pop open
If your cup is not fully open you will need to:
Remove it and try again.
Reach up to the top of the cup and run your fingers around the rim.
or you can each up to the top of the cup and pull the rim of the cup away from the wall of your vagina. This will enable air to pass through and help to cup to pop open.
Try squating while you insert it.
Change your cup for a smaller size.
How to take your menstrual cup out
To remove your menstrual cup:
Wash your hands.
Tense the muscles within your vagina to help lower the cup down.
Reach in and grab onto either the stem or the ribbed base of the menstrual cup.
Carefully pull the cup out by pulling on the ribbed base. If it has formed a very tight air seal you may need to press onto the side of the cup to release the trapped air, making it easier to remove.
Pour the contents away.
You can try squatting to help lower the cup down making it easier to remove.
Storing your menstrual cup
Store your Ruby Cup in the organic cotton bag that came with your purchase. Your menstrual cup needs to be stored in a breathable environment. Do not store your cup in an airtight container. You can wash the cotton bag in your washing machine when needed.
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Embarrassed by leaving blood in the toilet bowl?
As blood is heavier than water you may find that it sits at the bottom of the toilet bowl which can sometimes be a little embarrasing. If this happens you can put a little toilet roll into the toilet and empty your cup onto it (this will soak it up) or you can flush the toilet a couple of times to help clear it.
Added protection
If I am leaving the house I choose to put in a thin panty liner like the two below during the first two days of my period. This is becuase once the menstrual cup is completly full it will begin to leak a little and I like the feeling of having added protection. If you are looking for a reusable alternative why not try period underwear that offers light protection.
Check out all of our menstrual health product recommendations at THP Recommends
Final Thoughts
As a Nutritionist and natural health enthusiast I would highly recommend the Ruby Cup to clients, colleagues, friends and family. It is a safe, effective, low cost and comfortable menstrual product that makes 'that time of the month' so much easier.
Ruby Cup Discount Code
The Health Puzzle have an exclusive discount code TheHealthPuzzle10. When you click on the button below and apply our discount code at checkout you will get 10% off your Ruby Cup order.
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